A split between Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell has been exposed, after the Labour leader slammed tax cuts for 32 million Britons in the budget, just a day after the shadow chancellor talked up the plans.

The tax split between the two has been been laid bare after Jeremy Corbyn vowed vowed to 'claw back' tax cut money from top earners at prime minister's questions on Wednesday.

The Labour leader's spokesman said the 5 per cent of workers with highest incomes - those on £80,000 and above - would be stripped of any benefits from the income tax threshold changes.

The declaration came amid a day of chaos in Labour's ranks as Mr Corbyn insisted the party would not vote for the Budget tax cuts just a day after shadow chancellor John McDonnell insisted it would.

John McDonnell (pictured left) and Jeremy Corbyn (pictured right) listening to Philip Hammond present his budget on Monday in Parliament

The confusion was prompted by Philip Hammond's giveaway to 32 million workers - by raising the personal allowance to £12,500 and the higher rate threshold to £50,000 - which has torn Labour in two.

A Labour source said the approaches Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell make are sometimes at odds.

A source told The Times: 'It's definitely true that John McDonnell is desperate not to create the impression of being seen to clobber middle earners on tax, whereas Jeremy is less concerned.

'Jeremy does not want to offend the left.'

The £9billion package of income tax cuts was unveiled by the Chancellor on Monday.

At PMQs this afternoon, Mr Corbyn asked Mrs May (pictured) why the government had chosen 'not to end the benefit freeze for 10million households

Speaking after PMQs, Mr Corbyn's spokesman was asked directly if he will reverse the Budget measures.

He said: 'We will claw back in the sense that we will raise taxation to that 5 per cent group, and exactly how that is done, we spelled out how we would do it in the last election about obviously deepening on when the next election is held that will need to be assessed at the time.

'But obviously in relation to any benefit they get form this measure, that will be clawed back and more by the measures we have set out already and however we develop them.'

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) tore into Theresa May over the handouts for higher-rate taxpayers in a stormy PMQs session

He added: 'We have said, in terms of income tax, that the income tax increases will only affect the top 5 per cent.'

Labour is set to abstain when the plan is voted on in the Commons today as it cannot vote against moving the higher rate threshold without also voting down tax cuts for the low paid.

Basic-rate taxpayers will gain £130 a year from next April as the personal allowance rises to £12,500, while an increase in the higher rate to £50,000 will put hundreds of pounds more in the pockets of the better off.

The morning after the Budget, Mr McDonnell said: 'We will support the tax cuts at the moment on the basis that it will inject some demand into the economy.'

He added: 'We're not going to take funding away from people. Some are middle earners – headteachers and people like that who've had a rough time.'

But at PMQs yesterday, Mr Corbyn asked Mrs May why the government had chosen 'not to end the benefit freeze for 10million households but instead field a tax cut for higher earners'.

Mrs May shot back: 'On Monday he said that cutting taxes for 32m people was 'frittering money away on ideological tax cuts'.

'Yesterday, his shadow chancellor said what we've always known, that the tax cuts were for 'middle earners, head teachers and people like that'.

Mr Hammond (pictured on a visit to Gainsborough yesterday) announced that he was bringing forward a Tory pledge to raise the thresholds for both basic-rate and 40p rate taxpayers to next year

'So when he stands up, perhaps he can tell the House whether he will back the tax cuts and vote for the Budget?'

Mr Corbyn's official spokesman said after PMQs: 'Our commitment is that there will only be income tax increases on the top 5 per cent of earners.'

Asked directly if he will reverse Mr Hammond's income tax cuts for the top 5 per cent of earners – roughly equating to those earning £80,00 or more a year - the spokesman said: 'We will claw back in the sense that we will raise taxation to that 5 per cent group, and exactly how that is done, we spelled out how we would do it in the last election about obviously deepening on when the next election is held that will need to be assessed at the time.

Labour chaos as Corbyn condemns Budget tax cuts for the better-off at PMQs - a day after McDonnell backed them

Labour was plunged into chaos today as Jeremy Corbyn condemned Budget tax cuts for the better off - the day after his shadow chancellor backed them.

Mr Corbyn tore into Theresa May over the handouts for higher-rate taxpayers in a stormy PMQs session.

The leader's spokesman also made clear after the clashes that he is determined to 'claw back' the money from top earners if Labour wins power.

But he was derided by Tory MPs in the chamber as John McDonnell had previously endorsed the increase in the tax threshold.

The shambolic scenes came as Labour signalled it will abstain on the tax changes in crucial Budget votes, to avoid the threat of a mass revolt by MPs.

The £9billion package of income tax cuts was unveiled by Chancellor Philip Hammond on Monday.

'But obviously in relation to any benefit they get form this measure, that will be clawed back and more by the measures we have set out already and however we develop them.'

He added: 'We have said, in terms of income tax, tha the income tax increases will only affect the top 5 per cent.'

Senior Labour have been queuing up to condemn Mr McDonnell's decision to back the tax cuts.

Labour MP Jess Phillips said: 'When Philip Green gets more from the budget than a midwife might I suggest we are on shitty ground.'

Former Labour Cabinet minister Andy Burnham described them as 'morally indefensible when some people are struggling to feed and clothe their children'.

Mr Burnham, now the Labour mayor of Manchester, said he was 'at a loss to understand' why Labour was backing the package.

He suggested Labour leaders were 'spooked' by polls showing the Tories ahead, adding: 'I honestly can't see how Labour's position will hold.

'It is not just that the distribution is so unfair. I can't see how tax cuts for the wealthiest can be the priority when police are so stretched and people dying on British streets for want of a roof over their head.'

Education spokesman Angela Rayner said tax cuts for those on higher incomes were 'the wrong priority', while shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry described them as 'tax cuts for the rich'.

Former minister Yvette Cooper said: 'People on £90,000 to £100,000 a year will get tax cuts worth £860 in April, those on £125,000 will get £600 – far more than low-paid workers, at a time when child poverty is going up, benefits are being cut, vital council services are being cut, and the police are badly overstretched. This is wrong – I cannot support it.'

Ex-minister David Lammy said: 'We should not be supporting tax cuts that disproportionately help the wealthy. Tory cuts will benefit rich families 14 times more than the poor.'

Mr Hammond announced on Monday that he was bringing forward a Tory pledge to raise the thresholds for both basic-rate and 40p rate taxpayers to next year.

The Chancellor said it was 'right and moral' for the Government to deliver on its manifesto tax pledges.

He said many middle-income workers in schools, hospitals and the police had been dragged into the higher rate of tax, adding: 'It's important to raise all of these thresholds.'

Labour misgivings were fuelled by analysis by the centre-Left Resolution Foundation think-tank, which claimed the cuts would 'overwhelmingly benefit richer households', with 45 per cent set to go to the top 10 per cent of households alone.

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Split between Corbyn and McDonnell is exposed as Labour leader slams tax cut for 32m Brits